A milestone for Hamel VFW hall

Article by: NICK WOLTMAN , Special to the Star Tribune
Updated: September 19, 2012 - 11:49 AM

Besides celebrating 50 years in the same building, it hopes to attract younger members.

hide

The Hamel VFW is planning an open house for Oct. 20-21, with “1962 food at 1962 prices.”

Photo: Nick Woltman, Star Tribune

Camera Star Tribune photo galleries

Camera view larger

0
comments
resize text
print
buy reprints

Tweet
share

email
Email share

your name

your email

recipients email

+ add a comment add a comment

It wasn't the prettiest building Les Raskob had ever seen, but to him and the other members of Post No. 5903 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, 19020 Hamel Road in Plymouth looked like home.

The group bought the former restaurant in 1962, and Raskob, a professional carpenter at the time, set to work renovating the dilapidated structure to suit the VFW.

"It was pretty well rundown," he said. "We did quite a bit of work on it. A lot of work, in fact."

Raskob, now 89, is one of a dwindling number of World War II veterans that once made up the majority of the post's membership. As it celebrates its 50th year in the hall in October, the organization is undertaking a different kind of renovation - a reworking of its image.

"We're not your grandfather's VFW," former post commander Paul Mercer said. "We're not all sitting around smoking cigarettes and drinking and complaining about stuff."

He and current post commander Doug Johnson blame their group's steady decline in membership - from 178 vets at its peak in 1965 to 101 today - on the perception of the VFW as an "old man's club."

They hope to revitalize the organization by recruiting younger veterans, such as those who served in the Gulf War and the war on terror, who currently represent only a fraction of the post's total membership.

"We're looking for young blood - new ideas to help move us into the 21st century," Mercer said.

Johnson views the anniversary as an opportunity to reach out to these younger veterans and let them know exactly what the VFW can do for them.

"We tell them, 'We're here to support you,'" Johnson said. "We're here to make them more knowledgeable about what benefits are available to them" through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

The VFW hall is also a place where veterans can simply get together to discuss experiences they had overseas or problems they're having readjusting to civilian life after a deployment, Mercer said.

The post also plans to begin offering Meals on Wheels to the communities adjacent to the hall, specifically designed with veterans in mind, but open to anyone in need.

Jill Michel, who was voted in as the post's kitchen manager last month, will be in charge of the Meals on Wheels program. Michel, whose father was a Korean War veteran, runs a small catering business out of the hall's kitchen, giving 20 percent of her profits back to the organization.

The hall is also available to rent for public or private functions, and she plans to serve "1962 food at 1962 prices" during the open house weekends to give area residents a taste of what she offers for catered events.

"We're reaching out," Mercer said. "We want to get more members, but we want to show people that we're trying to do things for the community, too."

Nick Woltman is a Twin Cities freelance writer.

50TH ANNIVERSARY OPEN HOUSE

• Open house from noon-4 p.m. Oct. 20 and 21

• Food at 1962 Prices: Burgers, fries and root beer floats

• Live Oldies Music

• Tours of the VFW hall

• Drawings for gift certificates